Date: Sun, 6 Mar 1994 14:36:00 EDTB
From: Song Weaver
Subject: Censorship of THE ADVOCATE at Willamette U.
From the student newspaper The Collegian at Willamette University.
HOMOSEXUAL ADVOCACY MAGAZINES SWIPED
By James Fujita.
Sixty copies of The Advocate were systematically stolen from the Mark O.
Hatfield Library over and immediately after winter break. Apparently, as
each copy was placed on the shelves, someone came in and managed to
remove the copy, either by stealing it or throwing it away.
The Advocate is a gay and lesbian rights magazine that University
Librarian Larry Oberg said, "is a reputable bi-weekly magazine that is
subscribed to by many, if not most, academic libraries nationally."
Since most of the issues of the Advocate disappeared over the break,
Oberg, along with Campus Safety, suspects that they were "most likely
removed by a non-student," who was probably politically motivated or
angered over gay rights. Noted Oberg, "It seems to me that whatever
one's position on a given issue may be, destroying library books is a
poor way to try to win an argument."
In response to these actions, the library is currently protecting the
magazines by putting them behind the circulation desk as recommended by
Campus Safety. Those who wish to read the magazine must request it,
which could lead to problems as people might be embarrassed to ask for a
copy. Oberg also noted, "Librarians have a long tradition of providing
information on both sides of controversial issues--our professional
obligations are all stated clearly in the Library Bill of Rights. We
believe in providing information, not censoring it."
Unfortunately for the library, the possibilities for Campus Safety to
protect the library are limited, although they are pursuing options for
preventing this from happening again, or even catching a potential
criminal. Stealing or mutilating library materials is a misdemeanor
under Oregon law and the library will prosecute anyone caught stealing
library books.
This incident is not an isolated one, either. Explained Oberg, "We know
that within the last couple of years, the number of attempts to censor
library materials in Oregon has increased almost exponentially. We are
also seeing an increase in the rate of theft, mutilation, and non-return
of books on today's two principal hot-button topics: Homosexuality and
abortion. Until recently, we thought that this only happened in public
libraries, but we were wrong. It is beginning to happen in private
college libraries as well."